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2016 NFL Season: Final Record Predictions For All 32 Teams

By Erik Lambert

Sep 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick (7) and Blaine Gabbert (2) on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 43-18. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick (7) and Blaine Gabbert (2) on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 43-18. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 5, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) and quarterback AJ McCarron (5) take the field prior to the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) and quarterback AJ McCarron (5) take the field prior to the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Cincinnati Bengals (11-5)

Biggest Strength:  Offensive Line

It was a group that played very well in 2015 led by Andrew Whitworth, Clint Boling and Kevin Zeitler.  They paved the way for a solid ground game and helped both Andy Dalton and A.J. McCarron get some wins.  So to think that offensive line has such solid talents like Cedric Ogbuehi, Jake Fisher and Christian Westernman waiting in the wings is hard to fathom.

Biggest Weakness:  Wide Receivers

Even having A.J. Green couldn’t save this position group from drawing this tag.  That’s what happens when their other two top options leave via free agency in Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu.  In their place come some unknowns.  Brandon LaFell has had modest success in Carolina and New England while 2nd round pick Tyler Boyd was productive at Pitt.  Neither though has shown anything yet in Cincy, which makes Green the only proven quantity.

Final Record Reason

That loss to Pittsburgh in the playoffs may have been the most painful in franchise history, which is saying something.  Even so, Marv Lewis has shown an ability to move his team past such heartbreaks and keep them focused on continuing to get better.  They won’t post the same record as last year but they’ll be right in the thick of things in the AFC North.  Just way too talented a club to say otherwise.

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